The first illustration of the incisive suture in humans was presented in 1573 by Coiter. Its discovery in humans can be romantically attributed to Goethe 18 (1784) for he was, perhaps, the greatest genius of German culture, even though there are reports that precede his mention. Premaxilla is also known as incisive bone, intermaxillary bone and premaxillary bone, or even Goethe’s bone. A new bone is simultaneously added to the suture margins of each bone, broadening the perimeter of each bone by means of quantities that amount to extensions of the regional dislocation. The bones of the nasomaxillary complex get dislocated to positions far from their several suture joints.

When explaining facial growth and development in childhood, Enlow and Dale 14 described that there is a displacement of the nasomaxillary complex as a result of the increase in soft tissues in the face. 38 Some other information was added to the present study, besides the arguments presented at that time, thus enhancing the first study aforementioned. The present study represents a second phase of author’s reflections on the premaxilla and conclusions are similar to those previously published. In the second decade of life, vertical growth prevails. In the first ten years of life, there is predominantly horizontal maxillary growth towards the anterior and posterior region 8. 6, 7At the same time, mandibular growth is exuberant and maxillary growth is reduced. In the first years of postnatal life, skull growth predominates over facial growth.

Maxilla is the main bone of midface and shows prevailing vertical growth associated to the skull base. The face is divided into upper third, middle third (midface) and lower third.

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